Protecting your rear

So my bother was rear ended and says that his hitch was what took the brunt of the damage and so he always leaves his on. But, like anything shiny, it keeps getting stolen. Just wandering what you all do. Do you pay the $30 every time for a new hitch, use something else, or just leave your rear open and hope for the best. Thanks in advance.

 

Hitch lock.

 

Most would tell you that leaving the hitch in will cause more damage if rear ended...

I've never NOT used a hitch lock.

 

Nice, do you feel like that's the best protections option as well?

 

$26 Master Lock 2848DAT Key Alike Set with Receiver and Coupler Latch Locks, 2-Piece Set

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-...=1503626112&sr=8-3&keywords=master+hitch+lock

 

People will steal anything of value, hitch lock is cheaper than a hitch.

 

Yes, for sure. Makes it a little harder if anything. I use a Kurt ball hitch and a Kurt hitch lock.

 

In most states it is illegal to leave your hitch in when you are not actively towing, just FYI. If someone backs into his hitch in a parking lot he'll be on the line for the damage.

That being said, leaving the hitch in will increase the forces put on the frame in an accident. So it makes it more likely the impact will total the truck.

So not a smart choice for many reasons.

 

What communist states are those? I don't think MOST states have laws against it but rather SOME states might. From what I've read, it also depends on how far out past the bumper it protrudes.

That being said, I keep mine behind the rear seats in the bin. Takes two seconds to reinstall and I don't destroy my shins each time I walk behind the truck.

 

Its not a ridiculus law. I hate being in tight parking lots with assholes who leave their hitch in and park behind me. You can't see them.

I also forgot the shin thing. I wailed my knee on my hitch two weeks ago.

 

Cops aren't going to bother. I roll with my bike rack even when not in use. If I get rear ended just more new stuff I get to buy with the other guys insurance. I have spoken with a cop about this when my rack was backed into and broke a small piece. That person sent me more than twice what it cost since he left the scene. Fortunately my friend took the license plate. Cop let him settle which was fine with me. HomeDepot has some good prices on hitch locks.

 

Issue isnt a ticket but that your insurance (or the other guys) can refuse to pay for certain things if the law is broken.

 

I understand. In CO the police officer had no issues. So many people here do the same. It's a very active state. From work trucks to personal ones I see plenty of hitches and bike racks left when not in use. Though never checked the law here. Obviously the cop didn't care if it was.

 

In most states - even California - mounted hitch apparatus is legal on a TRUCK. I like my ring, makes a convenient step and easy to fit the shackle. In southern Arizona anything not locked is automatically stolen.

 

Most parking lots are private property and except for parking in fire zones or handicap spots, etc, there are no rules as to how you park. It's basically a "no fault zone". So if you park at Home Depot and somebody hits your car, unless you can prove they did it on purpose, you are liable for your own damages, not somebody else's vehicle. You have an accident in Home Depot's parking lot, the police won't even show up. Those stop signs, yield signs, lane markers, are all suggestions. They do not carry the weight of law.

 

I've got this on my truck. Backed up into a stone pillar, back end completely fine

TAC EVO33090 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma Rear Bumper Guard Protection Nerf Push Bar, Black

https://www.amazon.com/TAC-2005-201...5890&sr=8-2&keywords=rear+bumper+guard+tacoma